Vertical swing beam for amusement and exercise

ABSTRACT

A normally upstanding resilient structure for amusement and excercise of children or adults comprising a plurality of interconnected, vertically, aligned, elastically bendable plate sections arranged so that the faces of the plates thereof are generally non-coplanar, and having a rotatable top plate from which a handle is suspended for the user to perform the aforementioned activity. The structure is fixedly positioned at its base but is not secured thereabove so that the structure is free to perform a swaying movement when acted upon by the weight of a user grasping the handle.

United States Patent [1 1 Hanson 1 1 VERTICAL SWING BEAM FOR AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISE [76] Inventor: Richard A. Hanson, 5750 Tamarack Way, Concord, Calif. 94521 [22] Filed: July 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,420

[52] 11.8. C1 272/60 A, 182/100, 182/189 [51] Int. Cl A63b 9/00 [58] Field of Search 272/1 R, 1 B, 57 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1933 Sibley 272/57 R 8/1960 Speelman 272/1 R 3,246,893 4/1966 Boggild et al..... 272/61 3,250,532 5/1966 Brown 272/60 3,268,223 8/1966 Woodsum, .lr. 272/57 R X Aug. 28, 1973 Strickland, Jr 27211 R Boggild et a1 272/60 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer Attorney-Manfred M. Warren, Herbert Rubin et a1.

57 ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures VERTICAL SWING BEAM FOR AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISE This inventionrelates to amusement and excercise devices and particularly a type of flexible, upstanding,

to 'Frei for AMUSEMENT APPARATUS patented June 28, 1932; US. Pat. No. 1,907,45l to Sibley for AMUSEMENT DEVICE patented May 9, 1933; and 1' hibited more widespread acceptance'an'd success of such devices sometimes referred to asa .swing pole" or spring swing. Generally, these earlier versions have relied for their flexibilityfupon one,'of two expedients: (l') a pivotal "baseconnection in support-of a generally rigid upright pole, wherein the pivotal base urges the pole to upstandingposition by-meansofa :spring loaded mechanical linkage; or(2) a flexible pole of generally" uniform cross. section, or-.-uniformly -ta pered, wherein the 'flexural reacti on is essentially dependent upon the stiffness of 'the pole. As a' result; using the foregoing-basic designs, the following-disadvantages areevidently encountered v. ln the ease off'the spring loaded base systems, he freedom of motion is generallyunidirectional, thus creating a monotonous effect for theuser; andevenwhere.

thespring motionjs madermultisdireetionahfor example where a cluster'ofzspring'.retardersin each of several directions is utilized, the motion is generally "discrete,

predictable and again, monotonous. Also, spring d ea vices mounted at the,base of apole severalfeet in height, and ,called'up'omto resisttarid dampenf movementscreated thereby even by a childs weight (let alone an adultym'ustofinecessityfbe bullty and cornprise relativel-yflarge .cotrtponents. Moreover, as can be seen 'froma cursoryv inspection of such-devices, the

base arrangementsj maybe relativelyv complex'mechanical assemblies indicatinghigh initial costs and mainte.- 'nance. f f

The flexible .pole arrangementsthus far disclosedby the prior'art with lwhich-l am familiar also have several inherent undesirable features. "First, bending resistance is generally the same in all directions, soagain-theride experience when one swings'from such adevice tends to be predictable and monotonous. Also, pole dimen-- sions of hollow .pipes'or solid materials mustpossess cross sections small-enough-tobe flexible, yet heavy enough to sustain repeated cycles by users of various heighrs and weights. .Sucli requirementsare generally exclusive of each other, -'thus difficult to reconcile,-especially using ordinary; cross-sectional shapes (hollow are achieved'by thestructure of thejpreferredembodif pipe, solid uniform sections, or composite uniform sections) and usually end up in a compromise which achieves'neither a novel ride for the user, nor long life for the equipment. Furthermore, ordinary stock sections possess poor damping characteristics, so even where some of the foregoing difficulties may be overcome by using unusual materials, the problem still remains whether the equipment is safe bothfor the user and against premature failure.

Moreover, with respect to either of the foregoing basic types of swing poles, individual adjustment of the assemblies by the user is difficult if not impossible. That is to say the height and flexural qualities of a pole, once installed, are difficult to alter. Thesame can be said of changing the spring'characteristics pivot base.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to providea generally upstanding resilient structure, hereinafter'sometimes referred to as a spring swing, capable ofsupporting arelative ly larege range of users and having flexural characteristics which vary depending upon of a spring-urged the direction the user is swinging, thus achieving a ride which is generally unpredictable and differentffrom one time to the next, even for-the same user. I v It is also an object of this invention to pro vide a resil "lent-spring swing structure which'achieves its flexural characteristics and effective damping without the Iuse ofapivotal base ofany kind, spring loadeld or other; Afurther object of my invention is to offer a vertical flexural device whose overall height and flexural characteristics may be relatively easily altered to suit different ranges of sizes and weights orusers. P

v A ,featureand advantage of my invention is that :it may be fabricated of relatively commonplacestock materials'in simple shapes, and does not require elaborate auxiliary mechanical assemblies.

lt is also an object of the presentinvention to provide a spring swing having an uppermost section'that is rotatable about an off-set vertical axis thus-self-adjus'tiri'g to face-into'the"wind of travel-and'provide'additional dampingof the entire system, thus'addirig safety as well as variabilityto the ride experience. Such swivel action of the uppermost section of my spring swing 'ha's the added safety'feature that if'a user, particularlyvachild',

.happens to stand near the-device whenit is poised for injury. 1

' "I Still other significant safety featuresiand advantages ment of my invention which l comprises a series-of orthagonal, interlocked, flat plates secured in end-to end relationship to each-other=with the faceplanes of adja and then suddenly-released.

Moreover by the. use of the aforementioned'o'rthagonal -plates, each, *in successiveascending position,

'may be shaped to provide a'tapered beam, wide .at the bottom and narrow'at the top. Such designincreases safety because whenthe beam bends,- it bends as=much at the top as at'the base as opposed to an ordinary polewhich wouldbendmore at the base than at the top so that withmy sp'ring'swing, when'poised foraction and then suddenly released, the spring back motion near the base is relatively slight; and a user will be reasonably safe even standing directly in the path of the swing; since most of the shipping motion will be at the top of my structure and even this motion will be damped by the action of the uppermost section, especially, mentioned above.

Numerous other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, upon a reading of the specification that follows and by reference to the accompanying drawing which together explain certain embodiments of my invention.

Turning now to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a general side elevation of one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the central section of the structure shown in FIG. 1, except that the plate section shown therein is typical of an alternate and preferred embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the corresponding portion thereof shown immediately adjacent thereto at FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a portion of the same structure as that shown at FIG. 2, except that upper plate 30 is shown in an alternative form.

My invention is best understood by referring first to FIG. 1 wherein I show spring swing 12 generally comprising upright spring beam 14 wherein the lowermost portion thereof, planar section 16, is imbedded in the ground by means of concrete or some other suitable expedient to support the device in its normally upstanding position and restrain the system against capsizing during normal useage in a manner disclosed in greater detail hereinbelow.

Use of my highly entertaining and healthful exercise device is initiated by the user grasping handle 18 that depends from uppermost planar section 20 to which it is secured by means of a conventional swiveling eyebolt assembly 22. Since preferably the distance from the bottom of handle 18 to ground G should exceed the height of the user, be he child or adult, handle 18 is reached by simply climbing the ascending, vertical planar sections 24-30 in the manner suggested by the schematic anatomical outline of a user 34 in FIG. 1. Once within ,the reach of handle 18, the latter is grasped by the user. Then, by virtue of the users weight and maneuvering action, the entire spring beam 14 is deflected from its normally upstanding position to a generally arc-like configuration with the user standing on the ground with handle 18 in hands overhead several feet from base section 16. Thereafter, in a manner to be explained in somewhat greater detail below, the user, generally with the assist of -a gentle jump, is caused to be trajected by the springbeam, from which he remains suspended by handle 18, in the beams reaction to return to its normal upright position.

It is a particular feature of my invention that the spring beam 14 may be constructed of relatively stiff metal sections and at the same time provide an overall structure that has interesting flexural characteristics capable of reacting upon the user to provide a nearly indefinite number of different trajectory paths and speeds. This is accomplished by the use of interconnected plates 16, 24-30, and 20. Each of these plates is fabricated of an elastically bendable material such as aluminum, sheet steel, or the like, and designed so that the flexing action of spring beam 14 referred to in greater detail below, the yield strength of the material is not generally exceeded. The plates are formed, in the case of those shown at FIG. 1, with interlocking slots 36 (plate 24) and 38 (plate 26), a typical connection design used at each of the several plates shown, although repeated descriptions here would be unnecessarily redundant and are therefore omitted. The connection at each such interlock is completed by a conventional bolt and bracket assembly 40 which assures that adjacent plates remain together; and that adjacent plates are held at right angles to each other.

By means of the aforedescribed plate interlocking connections, the entire array of elastically bendable members 16 and 24-30 are connected in end-to-end vertical alignment to form the generally upright spring beam 14 with the corresponding flat faces, the major planar surfaces of each of the adjacent sections defining intersecting, non-coplanar surfaces. By this configuration, and overall flexural characteristics of composite beam 14, in respect to a force applied by a user from any direction, is a combination of the relative limberness of a flat plate, alternated with the relative stiffness of a plate on edge, or combinations thereof depending upon the direction'of the applied user force. It is this flexure combination, provided by elastic member oriented toaltemately stiff and limber bending characteristics, that awards the spring swing of my invention its fundamental beneficial quality of strength and remark able resiliency. Indeed by such a design I may employ tough metallic materials and achieve the flexibility of fiber glass or plastic, without the detriments of low strength and undurability often encountered with those materials. Of course, plastic, fiber glass or other materials may be used with my invention for certain special versions thereof, such as in nurseries or where only small users are accommodated.

As a further aspect of my invention, I mount handle 18 by means of swivel bolt assembly 22 on to plate 20 which in turn is secured to bracket 42; and the latter is rotatably secured to horizontal edge 30a of plate 30 by means of rotating joint assembly 44, which is thus offset from the face of plate 30 and the major axis of spring beam 14. In this way I not only provide further freedom of movement for handle 18, but also plate 20 may now act as a damper against excessive beam movement. This is so because of the relation between the force exerted by the users weight and the swivel action of rotating joint 44, which together act to cause the face of uppermost plate section 20 to remain normal to the direction of travel of the spring beam, when the latter trajects during operation.

Thus it may be appreciated that my spring swing invention compositely provides a damped vertical riding spring or spring beam 14 with rotating plate 20 and swiveling handle 18 suspended therefrom. Accordingly, a user may climb up on my spring swing, grab hold of the handle, remain suspended from the end of the beam, jump off and descend relatively slowly to the ground. The user can then continue jumping from the ground and be pulled all the way up to the jumping off position, or swing and spin with roller coaster" effect around the beam in an almost infinite variety of path patterns.

A further benefit of the aforedescribed damping effect afforded by plate 20 is the added safety imparted thereby to users and bystanders. That is, even if a user or spectator should inadvertently be contacted by a moving portion of the spring beam, the effect of the clamping plate will minimize the impact of such contact. The swivel connection of the plate itself to plate bracket 42 will also allow the plate to deflect more or less harmlessly away from direct contact with a person, if contact should happen to be with that end.

A related safety feature of my invention, and one of great importance whether dealing with children or adults, is that the spring beam is fabricated so that the topmost sections are flexed to a degree nearly equal to that of the base sections, a condition just the opposite to say an ordinary spring pole which bends more at the base than at the top when flexurally deflected and thuscreates a dangerous whipping condition when released.

' The safer nature of the design of my invention nearly with each successive section having a base narrower than the top of the section immediately therebelow.

Thus the plate sections at the top are more flexible than those at the bottom, giving the beam its desirable flexing characteristics.

Moreover, by the use of flat plate sections at right angles to each other to build up spring beam 14, I provide the beam with effective aerodynamic damping, further adding to the safety of the device. That is, regardless of the direction in which the spring beam may traject, a major portion of the total flat plate area of all of the plate sections will offer wind resistance thereto. Such action further reduces the speed with which the beam trajects, thus contributing further to the safety of the entire system. I

AT FIG. 1A I show a more detailed and preferred fabrication of the plate sections referred to hereinabove. In particular this preferred includes an improved manner of interlocking and connecting the ver tical plates and is illustrated showing a fragmentary section of a spring beam comprising plate 126, and portions of plates 124 and 128 which correspond, respectively, to plates 26, 24 and 28 in FIG. I. By the particular construction of the preferredembodiment I am able to achieve an even more bendable and flexible beam with less imposed fatigue stressing than is believed to be the case with the type of construction shown in FIG. 1.

More specifically, in the preferred version of FIG. 1A. the planar plate sections referred to hereinabove now take the form of specially formed slotted sections, such as plate 126, 124, and 128, located alternately in end-to-end vertical arrangement to form spring beam 14. Each slotted plate is typified by plate 136 whose description which follows is applicable to the others as well.

Plate 126 is fabricated to provide a pair of longitudinal slots 136, 138 having termini 142 and 144, respectively, which, when assembled, contact confronting edges 128a and 12411 of plates '128, and 124, respectively. Interlocking plates 124, 128 also have formed therethrough longitudinal slots bounded by lobes 124b, 1281) and are secured to adjacent plate 126 by clamp brackets 148, 150. Clamp bolt assemblies 151, 152 associated with the brackets may be tightened to firmly secure adjacent plates 124, 128 in position within slots The open ends of slots 136, 138 formed to have rounded corners 1360, 136b and 138a, 138b, respectively, designed to bear against the faces of the plates 124, 128 housed within the slots when the latter plates are deflected during operation (see dashed line indications thereof in FIG. 1A). In a similar manner curved slot portions of plates 124, 128 will, when plate 26 is deflected, form a receiving surface for'portions of the latter plate. In this manner it will be apparent that I achieve the salutary effect of relieving plates 124, 126, and 128 from sharp bending when deflected and at the same time provide rounded stopping surfaces to support the flexibly deflected plates.

As a further refinement of one aspect of my invention, I show in FIG. 2A an alternative configuration of plate 30 in the form of plate therein. By shaping plate 130 to provide a rentrant curve between the face of the plate (130a and the horizontal edge 13% to which bracket 42 is rotatably secured by swivel bolt 44, dependent handle 18 is placed in a better position for being grasped by the user when ascending the beam in preparation for use.

In connection with the aforementioned refinement,

the alternative shape of plate 130, another feature of my invention becomes apparent. That is the adjustability of position of damping plate 20 by rotating the latter about swivel bolt 44. More specifically, when a taller or heavier person uses the device, the position of the plate as shown in FIG. 2 is satisfactory. When a somewhat smaller user mounts the spring beam, handle 18 may be brought somewhat closer to the ground, when fully deflected to starting position, by rotating plate 20 90 about the axis of bolt 44. A still further adjustment may be made for the smallest of users by swinging plate 20 about swivel bolt 44. Even more adjustment may be achieved by providing a more or. less extended flange 30a with several bolt hole mounting positions for swivel bolt 44. i i

As' one example of my invention I have obtained satisfactory results in accordance with the following: v a. The total height of the structure from base level to the top of the damping or uppermost plate in normal undeflect'ed position, 8 feet 2 inches.

b. All plates fabricated of alloy aluminum stock approximately 0.2 inches thick, except for the damping plate which is 0.1 inch thick.

c. All plates, except the damping plate and the plate immediately beneath, are formed to provide the same overall length, and all slotted to the same depth.

' d. The unit is mounted by conventional bracket assemblies on a cruciform base made of intersecting and bracketed 2 X 4s approximately 6 feet long, thus providing a stable and portable base.

It is also possible to use a laminate plate construction,

formed of a sandwich comprising, for example two thin outer metal sheets with a layer between formed,

for example, of a plastic or other suitable clamping ma-- terial.

It may be noted that a feature of the modular plate construction of my invention is that by adding or deleting plates or varying stiffness, i.e., thickness or width, the same basic assembly may be adapted for use by small children, juveniles, or adults.

These and many other variations of my invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after a study of my disclosure herein.

While I have described my invention for use by a single rider at a time, an interesting variation may be achieved by substituting handle 18 with a depending, extended handle (not shown). Such extended handle in the form of an inverted T-bar may be grasped by two users at once one at either end thereof thus to provide a two-man riding device.

A still further handle variation is to substitute a flexible line loop, such as a rope loop, for handle 18; or add such a loop to the existing handle as shown.

1 claim: 1. A flexible, normally upstanding device, sometimes referred to as a spring swing, for amusement and exercise of child and adult users comprising;

a plurality of elastically bendable planar sections; securing means to connect said sections in end-toend vertical alignment to form a generally upright spring beam with the corresponding faces of adjacent sections defining intersecting non-coplanar surfaces; handle means secured to and depending from the uppermost one of said sections, last said means adapted to be grasped by a user when the latter ascends said device to within reach of last said means, said spring beam being elastically deflectable from said normally upstanding position to a generally arc-like configuration by the action and weight or a user when grasping said handle means, and thereafter cause the user to be trajected by the beam in its reaction to return to its upright position; and

means associated with the lowermost portion of said device to support the latter in its normally upstanding position and restrain the device from capsizing during maneuver by a user.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further each of said elastically bendable planar sections is shaped so that said spring beam comprises a vertical array of tapered sections each wider at the base than at the top with each successive section having a base narrower than the top of the section immediately therebelow.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further said securing means is designed to position adjacent ones of said sections with the corresponding face planes thereof normal to each other.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further said planar sections comprise:

slotted sections, each of which has a closed end or terminus and an open end, said slotted sections located alternately in the end-to-end vertical arrangement thereof to form said spring beam, each of said slotted sections fabricated to provide a pair of longitudinal slots formed therethrough shaped to receive the confronting edges of adjacent ones of said solid sections, the open ends of said slots formed to have rounded corners designed to bear against the faces-of adjacent sections housed within said slots when the latter plates are deflected during operation of said device; and wherein further said securing means comprises:

clamp brackets mounted on said slotted sections proximate said slot termini; and clamp bolts to urge said brackets into frictional engagement with confronting ends of adjacent sections and to retain the latter in operative position within said slots.

5. The spring swing in accordance wit claim 1 and wherein said securing means connecting said uppermost section to said spring beam comprises:

bracket means rotatably secured to the one of said sections immediately below said uppermost section to swivably mount said uppermost section to the next lower section, said bracket means axis of rotation parallel to and offset from the face of the next lower section to cause the face of said uppermost section to remain normal to the direction of travel of said spring beam when the latter trajects during operation.

6. The spring swing, in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further each of said planar sections is shaped to form a stepping surface for the feet of a user, and

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF' CORRECTION Patent No. 3,754,75 D t Aug. 28, 1973 Inventor(s) RICHARD A. HANSON I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the drawing, in FIGURE 1, the missing reference letter -G- should be added to indicate ground level.

Column 1, line 65, "heighrs" should read -heights--.

Column 2, line 20, "larege" should read -large-. Column 2, line 32, "or" should be changed to- -of-. Column 2, line 53, "orthagonal" should read -orthogonal--. Column 2, line 59, "orth agonal" should read --orthogonal.

Column 3, .line 3, "shipping" should read -whipping.

' V Column 3, line 32, "useage" should read -usage. Column 3, line 49, after "in" should be inserted user's. Column 3, line 65, after "that" should be inserted -in-.

Column 4, line 18, "and" should be changed to -the--. Column 4, line 24, "member" should be changed to -members-. Column 4, line 25, "toalternately" should be changed to -to alternately--. Column 4, line 37, "on to" should be changed to -onto-. Column 5, line 36, "AT" should be changed to -At-. Column 5, line 38, "preferred" should be followed by -fabrication--. Column 5, line 50, the period should be changed to a comma Column 5, line 54, "plate 136" should be changed to ----plate l26-.

Column 6, line 1, after "138" should be inserted --a:r:e--. Column 7, line 28, "or" should be changed to -of--.

a Column 8, line 4, "face planes" should be deleted and -faces of the sections inserted.

Column 8, line 26, "wit" should read with--- Signed and sealed this L th day of June 1971;.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER, JR. C MARSHALDDANN Attesting; Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po-aoso (10-69) USCOMWDC 60376 p6'9 v U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-365-334 

1. A flexible, normally upstanding device, sometimes referred to as a spring swing, for amusement and exercise of child and adult users comprising; a plurality of elastically bendable planar sections; securing means to connect said sections in end-to-end vertical alignment to form a generally upright spring beam with the corresponding faces of adjacent sections defining intersecting non-coplanar surfaces; handle means secured to and depending from the uppermost one of said sections, last said means adapted to be grasped by a user when the latter ascends said device to within reach of last said means, said spring beam being elastically deflectable from said normally upstanding position to a generally arc-like configuration by the action and weight or a user when grasping said handle means, and thereafter cause the user to be trajected by the beam in its reaction to return to its upright position; and means associated with the lowermost portion of said device to support the latter in its normally upstanding position and restrain the device from capsizing during maneuver by a user.
 2. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further each of said elastically bendable planar sections is shaped so that said spring beam comprises a vertical array of tapered sections each wider at the base than at the top with each successive sEction having a base narrower than the top of the section immediately therebelow.
 3. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further said securing means is designed to position adjacent ones of said sections with the corresponding face planes thereof normal to each other.
 4. The device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further said planar sections comprise: slotted sections, each of which has a closed end or terminus and an open end, said slotted sections located alternately in the end-to-end vertical arrangement thereof to form said spring beam, each of said slotted sections fabricated to provide a pair of longitudinal slots formed therethrough shaped to receive the confronting edges of adjacent ones of said solid sections, the open ends of said slots formed to have rounded corners designed to bear against the faces of adjacent sections housed within said slots when the latter plates are deflected during operation of said device; and wherein further said securing means comprises: clamp brackets mounted on said slotted sections proximate said slot termini; and clamp bolts to urge said brackets into frictional engagement with confronting ends of adjacent sections and to retain the latter in operative position within said slots.
 5. The spring swing in accordance wit claim 1 and wherein said securing means connecting said uppermost section to said spring beam comprises: bracket means rotatably secured to the one of said sections immediately below said uppermost section to swivably mount said uppermost section to the next lower section, said bracket means axis of rotation parallel to and offset from the face of the next lower section to cause the face of said uppermost section to remain normal to the direction of travel of said spring beam when the latter trajects during operation.
 6. The spring swing, in accordance with claim 1 and wherein further each of said planar sections is shaped to form a stepping surface for the feet of a user, and hand holds for use in ascending said spring swing beam. 